haegeeaves



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. HARGREAVES 8: T. BIRD. APPARATUS FOR ELEGTROLYSIS 0F GHLORIDS, 6m.

Patented Nov. 17, 1896.

lnw brs m: umws PUERS co. wnoromua. wunmgpg, 5. c

(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 2.

J. HARGREAVES 86 T. BIRD. APPARATUS FOR ELEGTRQLYSIS 0P GHLQRIDS, 6w.

' In: xnlms vcrzns co. PKUYILLITHD. WASHINGTON. n c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet '3 'J. HARGREAVESK: T. BIRD. APPARATUS FOR ELEGTROLYSIS 0F GHLORIDS, 8m.

Patented Nev. 17,- 1896.

Irv/Wars. a9 WWwZM Fig. 5.

rm. mam: Psvzns no, mcmun-(m wnsumamu. u. c.

UNITED STATES TENT rricn.

JAMES HARG-REAVES, OF FARNW'ORTH-IN-YVIDNES, AND THOMAS BIRD, OF CRESSINGTON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROLYSIS OF CHLORIDS, 84,0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,591, dated November 17, 1896.

Application filed January 4, 1894. Serial No. 490,671. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: at the ends of the apparatus be anodes A or Be it known that we, JAMns Hancnnavns, cathodes B. ofFarnworth-in-lVirl11es, and THOMAS BIRD, The chambers D communicate through of Gressington, near Liverpool, in the county branch pipes (Z with the drain-pipe D. The 5 of Lancaster, England, subjects of the Queen gaseous or volatile product obtained in the of Great Britain and Ireland, have invented chambers D is led away through pipes K 5 5 new and useful Improvements in Apparatus and treated in any suitable manner. for the Electrolysis of Chloride and other The pipes E are for the admission of the Salts, of which the followingis a specification. electrolyte, while sprays G serve for the ad- To Our invention relates to an improved conmission of water-or a fluid to wash the product struction of electrolytic apparatus for use in from the cathodes. 6o

decomposing chlorids, iodids, bromids, ni- Vhen the acid radical is volatile, as in the trates, and other salts; the primary objects case of nitrates or bromids, heat may be apof the present invention being to render such plied to aid in expelling the acid in the form r 5 apparatus less expensive to construct, more of gas or vapor. Thus in Figs. i and 5 we convenient to manipulate, and more compact. show a steam-pipe 4, having branches 5, by

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is which steam is supplied for heating purposes, a vertical section of a cell constructed in acand the condensed steam serves to wash the cordance with tliisinvention. Fig. 2 isa horielectrode, so that as a rule no additional wa- 20 zontal section on the line 1 y. Fig. 3 is a deter is required. These steam-pipes may enter tail view, drawn to an enlarged scale, repreat any desired part of the shell. scnting our improved form of exposed ear- Liquid resulting from condensation or filbon anode. Fig. 4: is a partial side elevation tration is conducted from the chambers D illustrating the connections, and Fig. 5 is a through branch pipes d to a main drain- 2 5 side elevation of the same. Figs. 6, 7, and S pipe D are detail views of modified forms of anodes. To bind the cells together, we preferably Our improved cell is specially applicable employ wooden beams 1, placed at each end of for use in effecting the decomposition of sothe set of cells, these beams being connected dium nitrate and potassium iodid, all the by rods 2, having tighteningmuts 3. These 30 electrodes (anodes and cathodes) being exrods should be placed at such adistance from posed. The cell is preferably built up of secthe sides of the cell that no current will be So tions 0, C C and C and c e (2 6 arranged induced. Each anode maybe connected with in the following order: the plate 0 inclosing the cable by its own conductor. In the drawa collecting-space D an exposed anode A ings, Fig. 8, a strip of platinum is shown as 5 a diaphragm A; a section 6 c c a containing ameans of connection withthe conductor, the

the electrolyte F, a diaphragm B, an exposed strip being arranged along the back of each cathodeB; a section 0 inclosing a collectingcarbon plate. The anode compartments or space D, an exposed cathode B, a diaphragm cells being generally formed of non-conduct- B; a section 8 c c 8 containing the electroing material, such as earthenware, glass, &c.,

40 lyte F, adiaphragm A, an exposed anode A it becomes necessary to connect the conduca section O inclosing a collectingspace D tors to each carbon plate. The frames of the an exposed anode A a diaphragm A; aseccathode-cells being generally made of metal tion 8 e e a containing the electrolyte F, and it is sufficient to connect the conductors to so on, the apparatus endiu g with an exposed the frame, in which case one wire connection anode A and a second hollow plate C; but serves for two cathodes.

it will be understood that so long as two ex- The apparatus need only consist, however, 5 posed anodes A alternate with two exposed of two recessed side plates C and C, an exeathodes B in the central part of the apparaposed anode A and its diaphragm A, an xtus it is immaterial whether the electrodes posed cathode B and its diaphragm B, and

- product from the anode.

trough (3 is not necessary, it being found that' a compartment E for the electrolyte F between the diaphragms A and B.

The exposed anodes A may be of Wiregauze, as in Fig. 6, or of carbon. The carbon anode we prefer is shown in Fig. 3, the carbon plate A. being made with numerous serrations a. In order to avoid injury to the carbon plate, a-recess is formed in the section 0 or O or G for holding that plate against its diaphragm, the latter only being subjected to the full pressure exerted by the bolts when the sections of the cell are secured together. Tater is admitted at a, either continuously or from time to time by a small trough 6, surrounding the top of the carbon. anode, and runs down between the carbon A and the diaphragm A, thus permitting the electric current to flow easily and Washing away the In some cases the the steam generally supplies all the water needed at the anode. The carbon plate forming the exposed anode may instead of being serrated be either perforated, as in Fig. 7, or perforated and grooved, as in Fig. 8 If the carbon plates be broad, the gas may escape through perforations in the body of the carbon. If narrow, the gas may escape at the ends of the serrations or grooves. The exposed cathodes B may be of wire-gauze or of perforated sheet metal.

The diaphragms A, pertaining to the exposed carbon anodes A may be made in the following manner: Upon a fabric of glass fiber or of asbestos we deposit sulfate of baryta or sulfate of strontia by repeatedly dipping the fabric in a solution of baryta or of strontia and alternately into sulfuric acid or a solution of sulfate. Diaphragms so produced are,however,not restricted to use with anodes.

All the cells should be made of materials which are not liable to be attacked by the product contained in them, and as a general rule the cathode-cells may be made of metal and the anode-cells and electrolyte-cells may be made of earthenware, stone, glass, or slate.

WVhat we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In electrolytic apparatus, a cell having phragms, and collecting-chambers arranged alternately with the electrolyte compartments; substantially as described.

3. In electrolytic apparatus, a cell comprising several compartments having opposing porous diaphragms, an anode and cathode respectively located in contact with the exterior surfaces of the diaphragms, and a series of collecting chambers arranged alternately with the electrolyte-compartments, the anode collecting chambers being arranged alternately with the cathodecollecting-chambers; substantially as described.

4. In electrolytic apparatus, a cell having opposing permeable diaphragms forming the sides thereof, and a serrated anode and a cathode-respectively located against the exterior surfaces of the permeable diaphragms, said serrated anode being in contact with the permeable diaphragm only at the point of the projections left by the serrations, substantially as described.

'5. In electrolytic apparatus, a cell having opposing permeable diaphragms forming the sides thereof, and a serrated anode and a cathode respectively located against the exterior surfaces of the permeable diaphragms, and means for directing a stream of fluid be tween the anode and its diaphragm, substantially as described.

6. For use in the manufacture of an alkali or cation or derivative product, a cell comprising a recessed plate 0 3a space D bounded by the recessed plate, a vertical exposed anode A and a permeable diaphragm A next the plate G a chamber E containing the electrolyte, a permeable diaphragm B and vertical exposed cathode B on the opposite side of the chamber E, and a space D next the cathode B, the cell ending with a recessed plate 0, substantially as herein described.

7. For use in the electrolytic apparatus, the improved manufacture of diaphragm consisting of a mineral fabric with an insoluble sulfate deposited thereon,substantially as herein described.

8. The process for manufacturing a dia phragm for use in electrolytic apparatus which consists in depositing sulfate of baryta or sulfate of strontia on a fabric of glass fiber or of asbestos by repeatedly dipping the fabric in a solution of baryta or of strontia and alternately into sulfuric acid or a solution of a sulfate.

JAMES IIARGREAVES. THOMAS BIRD. \Vitnesses EDWARD W. BARDSLEY, ISAAC SHARPLEs. 

